The Mercer Football Club (MFC) recognizes that concussions and head injuries are commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activity and can have serious consequences if not managed carefully. Therefore, MFC has adopted the following policy to support the proper evaluation and management of head injuries.

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. A concussion occurs when normal brain functioning is disrupted by a blow or jolt to the head. Recovery from concussion will vary. Avoiding re-injury and over-exertion until fully recovered are the cornerstones of proper concussion management.

While trainers and/or coaches will exercise reasonable care to protect players, head injuries may still occur. Trainers and coaches will be required to complete training to recognize the signs, symptoms and behaviors consistent with a concussion. Any player exhibiting those signs, symptoms or behaviors while participating in a MFC practice or game shall be removed from the game or practice. Where possible, the player should be taken from the facility by his/her parents. The trainer/coach will notify the player’s parents or guardians if they are not at the activity so they may take appropriate action.

The player who suffers a concussion (whether in a MFC sponsored activity or any other - non MFC activity) may not return to practice or games until she/he has been evaluated by an appropriate health care professional (e.g., licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) and provides to MFC written authorization from the treating health care professional permitting the player to return to full soccer activities. Any player who has signs or symptoms upon return to practice or games will be removed from play and may be required to undergo a reevaluation by their health care professional. MFC reserves the right to require any player suspected of a possible concussion to provide written authorization to return to play from his/her treating health care professional.

If a player sustains a concussion at a time other than when engaged in a MFC sponsored activity or where the symptoms manifested themselves after a MFC sponsored activity, MFC requires the parent/guardian to report the condition to the trainer/coach so that MFC can be aware of the condition.

Player responsibilities:

It is extremely important that all players be made aware of the importance of reporting any symptoms of a concussion to their parent/guardian and/or trainer/coach;

Informing their trainer/coach, parent/guardian, about injuries and the symptoms they are experiencing;

Following the instructions from their health care professional; and

Encouraging teammates to report injuries.

Parents/Guardians responsibilities:

Report to the trainer/coach any concussion sustained by his/her player outside a MFC activity or where the symptoms manifested themselves after a MFC activity;

Obtain an written authorization from the player’s treating health care professional clearing the player to return to soccer activities and provide a copy of the authorization to MFC;

Manage the return to play progression protocol assigned by the player’s treating health care professional; and

Promoting an environment where reporting signs and symptoms of a concussion is considered acceptable.

Education

Parent, guardians, and players are strongly encouraged to undertake training on concussions that includes information on the symptoms of a concussion. The Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) provides information on concussions, including free web-based training - Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports. It is available at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html. Parents/Guardians are also encouraged to will have a baseline SCAT (Standardized Concussion Assessment Tool) or Impact Assessment Tool evaluation performed on their player each year to establish a baseline should the player sustain a concussion.

Return to Play Progression

Generally, return to play following a concussion involves a stepwise progression once the individual is symptom free for at least 24 hours. A player’s treating health care professional will likely establish progression for the player based on their medical evaluation. The following is one such possible return to play progression protocol based on the Zurich Progressive Exertion Protocol that the player’s treating health care professional may follow (click here for link to original source):

Phase 1 - low impact, non-strenuous, light aerobic activity such as walking or riding a stationary bike. If tolerated without return of symptoms over a 24 hour period proceed to;

Phase 2 – higher impact, higher exertion, and moderate aerobic activity such as running or jumping rope. No resistance training. If tolerated without return of symptoms over a 24 hour period proceed to;

Phase 5 – Full contact training drills and intense aerobic activity. If tolerated without return of symptoms over a 24 hour period proceed to

Phase 6 – Return to full activities without restrictions.

Each step should take 24 hours, so the player would take approximately one week to proceed through the full rehabilitation protocol once she/he is asymptomatic at rest and with provocative exercise. If any post-concussion symptoms occur while in the stepwise program, then the player should drop back to the previous asymptomatic level and try to progress again after a further 24-hour period of rest has passed. If a player is not progressing or there is an indication of a more serious head injury, the Parent or Guardian should consult with her/his player’s treating clinician.

Concussion Signs and Symptoms

Physical Symptoms

Headache

Neck pain

Nausea

Lack of energy and constantly feeling physically and mentally tired

Dizziness, light-headedness, and a loss of balance

Blurred or double vision and sensitivity to light

Increased sensitivity to sounds

Ringing in the ears

Loss of sense of taste and smell

Change in sleep patterns especially waking up a lot at night

Cognitive Symptoms

Difficulty concentrating and paying attention

Trouble with learning and memory

Problems with word-finding and putting thoughts into words

Easily confused and losing track of time and place

Slower in thinking, acting, reading, and speaking

Easily distracted

Trouble doing more than one thing at a time

Lack of organization in everyday tasks

Social and Emotional Symptoms

Mood changes including irritability, anxiousness, and tearfulness

Decreased motivation

Easily overwhelmed

More impulsive

Withdrawn and wanting to avoid social situations especially if there is a lot of people